Salvete!
Fear not, I’m not going to write this post all in Latin, but I thought I’d make a glossary of words used in the Roma Nova novels. Some are Latin, some derived from Roman customs or functions.
You’ll only find them sprinkled here and there in the books, something novelists do to add authenticity or atmosphere. It’s a fine line how much to include; writers can become too wrapped up in their own created world and forget that not everybody is equally obsessed!
Latin | Meaning | Comments |
Salve! | Hello | Plural, salvate! |
Vale! | Goodbye, literally ‘fare well’ | As in Ancient Rome |
Macte! | Well done! | The first Latin Conrad ever said to Carina |
Plica, Editio, Promere, Mittere | File, Edit, View, Send | Computerspeak |
Merda! | Shit! | No comment! |
Custos (plural custodes) | Police | Replaced the vigiles (singular vigilis) who had been corrupted during the Great Rebellion |
Sanitas bona! | Cheers! (Literally, good health!) | Dexia first uses this to Carina in the Washington legation |
Consiliaria (f) Consiliarius (m) |
Councillor | Equivalent to a cabinet minister in the Western sense |
Imagines | Plaster and marble busts and masks of ancestors | Often displayed in the vestibule, or hallway |
Domus Mitelarum | House of the Mitelae | The ancestral home of the Mitela family |
Senior Justiciar | Rank in the custodes, equivalent to sergeant | Derived linguistically from justitiarius but I changed its meaning from judge to law enforcer |
Proscriptee | Somebody whose civil and public rights have ben removed and whose property is forfeit. | Proscription is only ordered in very serious cases. A leftover from Dictator Sulla’s time in the Republic, but no decapitations these days |
Scarab | Slang word for a cop | Completely made up word and concept, but based on the hard-backed dung-beetle, i.e. one that processes shit. |
Macellum | Shopping centre/mall | From the Latin for provision market |
Primipilus | Senior centurion of a legion/regiment | Equivalent to an RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) A tough, experienced and terrifying solder who knows everything about everybody |
Novendiale | A commemorative feast nine days after a funeral | Derived from novem, nine |
Manes | The spirits of the dead | As per Ancient Rome |
Pluto in Tartarus! | One of the strongest swearing expressions in Roma Nova | (Look away now if you are of a delicate disposition.) Equivalent to ‘Fucking hell!’ |
Domina (f) | ‘Lady’ a form of address, from a person of lower civil rank to a higher | Derives from dominus, Latin equivalent of ‘sir’ or ‘master’. Aurelia calls Silvia ‘domina‘, but Junia, Aurelia’s steward, calls Aurelia ‘domina‘. |
Argentaria Prima | The biggest commercial bank in Roma Nova. Handles some transactions on behalf of the state | Derives from argentaria, a banking house, sometimes a silver mine. Prima means first |
Nuncia (f), nuncio (m) |
Equivalent of ambassador who heads up a Roma Novan overseas legation. | Nuncia literally means ‘she who conveys messages’. Roma Novan embassies are called legations. It sounds more Latin than ’embassy’. |
For some official and legal terms and institutions comparing Ancient Rome with Roma Nova, have a look at this post.
The words in the table above are just a few plucked out of the six books. Do let me know if there are any others you’d like me to add to the list.
Vale!
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers – INCEPTIO, PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO, AURELIA, INSURRECTIO and RETALIO. CARINA, a novella, and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories, are now available. Audiobooks are available for four of the series. NEXUS, an Aurelia Mitela novella, is now out.
Download ‘Welcome to Roma Nova’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be first to know about Roma Nova news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.
Another splendid post!
Was there anything missing? 😉